Wall file



A. E. SMITH Oct. 24, 1939.

WALL FILE Filed 0G11. 6, 1938 l INVENTOR.

/m@ few/7' Jm/f/P BY @CM/W ZM ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNiTED sTATEs eaTeNT OFFICE WALL FILE Anne Ewing Smith, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Appiication October 6, 1938, Serial No. 233,582

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Wall files.

The main objects of my invention are: First, to provide a novel. collapsible wall file well adapted to receive cards bearing informaor opened sufficiently in use to afford ready access to the cards therein.

Fourth, to provide a card le which is substantial kand at the lsame time economical both inthe matter of labor and material.

Further objects relating to' details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodyingV the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. lis a front view illustrating the collapsible ile of my invention With appropriate filing indicia' printed thereon.

Fig. 2 is an end View of the file of Fig. 1 Pas viewed 'from the right of f Fig. 1, in opened or .erected position. v

Fig. 3 is a View illustrating the elongated reeitangular blank employed in forming 'the file of my invention and illustrating the manner in which the same is scored and slit.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View on line 14--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View in section similar to Fig 4, illustrating certain structural details of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the manner of fastening certain parts of the structure to hold the same in finished form.

The present invention relates to a collapsible vcard file well adapted for use in the home, ycharacterized by a plurality of filing compartments adapted to receive andfcontain appropriate-cards Ybearing information such as menus, recipes, -remedles, and other useful household information. lIt is a primary object to provide such a filing 'article which is exceedingly simple and economical in construction and which may be manipulated to expand the compartments thereof,

- `whereby convenient access -may be had thereto (Cl. L29-16) for withdrawal or replacement of an information bearing card.

AReferring to the drawing, the reference numera-l I indicates the file of my invention which, in the lillustrated embodiment, comprises a plu- 5 rality 7of compartments 2 adapted to be spread or collapsed in an accordion-like manner, as will -be described. "I lhe le is Arnade ,from` an velongated rectangular sheet 3 which is bent or folded on the various dotted lines 4 (along which the 10 'blank may be `scored to facilitate folding, if desired) to provide a plurality of pairs of Ipanels 5, 5, 6, 5, i, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, the respective panels of each pair being of `equal area. It will be noted that panels 6, 6, 1, '1, 8, Y8, 9, 9 are all approxi- 15 Jmately the same area, whereas panels 5, 5 are slightly ,larger in area in vorder to accommodate means (to be described) for suspending the file. Furthermore, the respective pairs 6, 6, 1, l, 8, 3, 9,

-9 are -slitted yat 4Il] transversely vof the fold line 4 20 connecting the respective panels, there being a pair ,of slits for each panel extending equal distances on either side of the fold lines 4 for a purpose which will llikewise be `hereinafter ydescribed.

"The respective pairs of panels -5, 5, 6, 6, 1 1, 8,18, 9, 9 are joined rby compartment bottom sec- .tions ,I.I I2, I;3 I4, these -sections being adapted to form the bottom-s of the compartments in erected ,form of the article Yand lthereby vspace the Various compartment walls.

It will be appreciated that if vthe compartment is vdesigned to receive ialarge number of information `bearing cards, this should 1be taken into consideration in proportioning the widths of the Various sections Ii, i2, i3., I4. Therefore, for purposes Aof illustration, I v'have indicated the section I4 as being somewhat greater in width and area than the other "sections,

One of the panels 25 (which is .to .constitute-the 'exterior side vof the rear wall ofthe iile) has `connected thereto Van exterior bottom section I5 and a front vsealing lmember I6 provided with la flip -lI adapted Yto A-be turned in or -reversely bent when the article is assembled. Since the exterior bottom section I5 is to be juxtaposed relative to sections Il, I2, I3, and I4, with the latter in end-to-end relation, it is made -of sufficient Width for this purpose.

In assembling the le, the panels 9, 9 are bent 50 along the fold line 4 between the same to constitute the front compartment wall designated I8. The panels are secured together, preferablyadhered, in any appropriate manner, for example, by gluing, to hold the same in this form. The

Cil

bottom section of the panels 8, 8 are next folded in a similar manner and adhered together to constitute compartment wall I9.

The respective pairs of panels 'I, 6, 6, 5, 5 are next folded in similar manner and adhered together to constitute the respective compartment Walls 28, 2|, 22, as shown in Fig. 2.

The said walls I8, I9, 20, 2| 'are compressed together in parallel collapsed relation with the tops thereof in stepped order somewhat as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. It will be appreciated that in proceeding as described above the blank will be bent along certain of the fold lines 4 defining bottom sections I2, |3, I4, soY that when the file is partially folded to form the walls thereof the respective bottom .sections will likewise be partially defined.

The next step in the assembling operation is to cause the exterior bottom section I5 toadhere to the respective bottom sections I2, I3,

r I4 which are disposed in end-to-end relation for this purpose. This strengthens the bottom of the file and'rigidifies the whole structure. The front flap I6 has the lip II bent inwardly and is then folded up and around front wall I8 and adhered thereto for a portion of its height, as illustrated in Fig, 5, wherein the reference numeral 23 generally designates adhesive employed in securing the various elements together. By adhering the flap I6 only partially to the front wall 8, I provide a slot 24 extending across the Width of the le to receive a data bearing card 25 which, as indicated in 'dotted lines in Fig. 5, has been withdrawn from one of the compartments 2 and inserted in the slot behind the flap While the said card is being used. The ap I6 may be suitably printed to indicate its purpose in this respect.

'Ihe folding of the y:tile has now been com,- pleted. The next step is to secure the same in folded condition. The slits IIJ, which were performed in the various pairs of panels 6, 6, 'I, 'I, 8, 8, 8, 9 provide a pair of double thickness vtongues or straps 2B adjacent the top and sides of each of the walls I8, I9, 20, 2|, the said straps being spaced equally from the sides of the file. These straps are brought together and secured to one another, preferably by rivets or eyelets 21 and are riveted or eyeleted to rear wall 22 at 28. In securing the straps at 28, the straps of panels 6 and 'I are trimmed as indicated at 28| to make them of the same height as the straps on panel 8 vwhereby to eliminate the loose staggered ends which would otherwise occur due to difference in height of the straps in original position relative to the rear wall. Thus, each compartment wall has an intermediate upright portion 29 between the respective tongues' or straps 26 which with the corresponding upright portion of an adjacent wall outlines a compartment 2, while the tongues or straps 26, being secured to one another and to compartment wall 22, hold the walls in parallelism throughout the collapsing and expanding operation thereof.

In manipulating the file, the same is placed upright on a suitable support and the rear Wall 22 thereof pushed downwardly. This moves walls I8 and 22 and the intermediate walls relative to one another and bends the fold lines at the bottom sections which are still unbent, expanding the file, the tongues 26 yielding and bending rearwardly at their innermost extremities or points of attachment to the remainder of the wall, these extremities being designated 38. If desired, the L.said tongues, like the fold lines 4, may be suitably 'panding manipulation yof the file.

scored at such points to facilitate the rearward bending thereof.

In Figs. l and 2, I illustrate an eyelet 3| formed in rear wall 22 whereby the file may be supported on a hook. The said rear wall 22 is preferably imprinted with a suitable indication of the particular adaptability of the cards contained therein; for example, certain files in accordance with my invention might be imprinted First aid in the kitchen and accordingly the respective compartment walls might be identied with Recipes Menus," Stain removers, and the like. Alternatively, the files might be imprinted First aid ,in emergency, with the respective compartments thereof appropriately labeled in accordance with the data bearing cards to be enclosed therein.

The recesses 32 may be formed in the wall (panels either when the same are in blank form,

by slittingv at 33 as indicated in Fig. 3, or subsequent to folding thereof. These recesses afford easy access tothe cards.'

It will loey apparent that if desired the slits Il! may be 'formed by other procedure than the preforming method which I have described; that is, if found expedient, the said slits I8 could be stamped simultaneously in the collapsed Walls I8,

.|9, 20, 2| as an intermediate step. Furthermore,

the straps or tongues 26 are obviously capable of being secured to one another and to rear wall 22 by other'instrumentalities than the rivets or eyelets disclosed.

The le of my invention is characterized by a number of advantages. The upright walls thereof are rendered satisfactorily stiif by the doubled construction thereof. Moreover, they maintain their intended parallelism notwithstanding a free collapsing action, once appropriate bends have been made in the tongues 26 and Vbottom sections II, I2, I3, I4. The le may be rsuspended by eyelet 3| until needed, then removed and expanded by the simple manipulation which has been described, thus affording convenient accessto the various compartments 2. A card removed from any of the compartments may be slipped into slot 24 to support the same as long as it is needed and may then be readily replaced by a similar ex- However, an exceedingly important characteristic of my file is the extreme economy of construction thereof, notwithstanding itsV Very considerable strength,

which adapts the same to be marketed at a gure very far below that of hitherto known similar rigid or 'collapsible articles. p I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toI secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible wall file adapted to contain data bearing cards and to be suspended until the latter are to be used, comprising an elongated' Walls held in parallel relation by the so secured straps, and an outermost bottom section connected to one of the outermost panels and secured to said rst named bottom sections, said outermost bottom section being likewise partially adhered to the other outermost panel to afford a recess for receiving a card withdrawn from the le.

2. A collapsible Wall file comprising a rectangular sheet folded along parallel lines to provide a plurality of pairs of panels connected by rectangular bottom sections, the panels of each pair being secured yto one another to provide a plurality of walls defining compartments for the le, said walls being slitted adjacent each end thereof to provide straps and the straps being riveted to one another and to one of the outermost walls, said slits outlining intermediate portions of the walls held in parallel relation by the so secured straps, and an outermost bottom section connected to one of the outermost panels and secured to said first named sections to strengthen the bottom of the file.

3. A collapsible wall file comprising an integral sheet of cardboard bent transversely at a plurality of points spaced lengthwise thereof to provide a plurality of pairs of panels and a plurality of bottom sections integrally connecting said pairs, the panels of each pair being adhered to one another to provide compartment walls and said walls being slitted longitudinally of the sheet to provide straps, said straps being secured to one another and to one of the outermost walls whereby to maintain the walls in erect parallel relation while permitting collapsing movement thereof, and an exterior bottom section secured to said outermost panels and to said bottom sections to rigidify the file at the bottom thereof.

4:. A collapsible wall file comprising an integral sheet bent transversely at a plurality of points to provide a plurality of pairs of panels and a plurality of bottom sections integrally connecting said pairs, the panels of each pair being secured to one another to provide compartment walls, and means including means integral with certain of the Walls for securing the same toy one another and to an outermost wall whereby to maintain the walls in parallel relation and permit collapsing movement thereof.

5. A wall file comprising a plurality cf integrally connected wall members and bottom sections, certain of said wall members being slitted from the top and parallel to the sides thereof to define side straps, said straps being secured to one another and to one of the outermost walls to maintain the walls in parallel relation and to adapt the same for collapsing movement, saidI bottom sections and Walls being bendable along the lines of connection thereof during said collapsing movement.

6. A wall file comprising a plurality of integrally connected Wall members and bottom sections, certain of said wall members being slitted from the top and parallel to the sides thereof to denne side straps, said straps being secured to one another and to one of the outermost Walls to maintain the Walls in parallel relation and to adapt the same for collapsing movement, said bottom sections and walls being bendable along the lines of connection thereof during said collapsing movement, and an outermost bottom section juxtaposed relative to said first named bottom sections and secured thereto to strengthen the file, said outermost bottom section being integrally connected to an outermost Wall of the file.

7. A Wall le comprising a plurality of integrally connected wall members and bottom sections, certain of said wall members being slitted from the top and parallel to the sides thereof to define side straps, said straps being secured to one another and to one of the outermost Walls to maintain the walls in parallel relation and to adapt the same for collapsing movement, said bottom sections and Walls being bendable along the lines of connection thereof during said collapsing movement, and an outermost bottom section juxtaposed relative to said first named bottomsections and secured thereto to strengthen the file.

8. A wall file comprising a plurality of upright double ply compartment walls, the bottom extremities of said walls being integrally connected by rectangular bottom sections, the outermost ply of the rear wall being extended forwardly beneath and secured to said bottom sections and terminating in a flap secured to the front Wall, certain of said walls being slitted from the top and adjacent the sides thereof to provide straps, said straps being secured to one another and to the rear wall to maintain the walls of the file in parallel relation during the action attending the expansion and collapse of the file.

9. A wall file comprising a plurality of upright double ply compartment walls, the outermost ply of the rear wall being extended forwardly and terminating in a flap secured to the front wall, certain of said walls being slitted adjacent the sides thereof to provide straps, said straps being secured to one another and to the rear wall to maintain the walls of the le in parallel relation during the action attending the expansion and collapse of the file.

10. A wall le comprising a plurality of upright double ply compartment walls having the bottom extremities thereof integrally connected by rectangular bottom sections, the outermost ply of one of the outermost Walls being secured to said bottom sections, certain of said walls being slitted from the top and adjacent the sides thereof to provide straps, said straps being secured to one another and to one of the outermost Walls to maintain the walls of the file in parallel relation during the action attending the expansion and collapse of the file.

11. A wall le comprising a plurality of upright double ,ply compartment walls, certain of said walls being slitted from the top and adjacent the sides thereto to provide straps, said straps being secured to one another and to one of the outermost walls to maintain the walls of the file in parallel relation during the action attending the expansion and collapse of the file.

ANNE EWING SMITH. 

